Internal Research Award Management System (IRAMS)

IRAMS is used to manage both John Fell Fund and other funds. Researchers from outside of the University can apply for funding schemes that permit it, but they will have to obtain a virtual access account (temporary single sign-on ID).

Funding opportunities are advertised on divisional websites and the funding section of the Research Support website.

User guide

On the right hand side you can download the IRAMS applicant quick reference guide

Browser compatibility

IRAMS is platform-agnostic and will work across all major PC and Mac browsers. Please ensure you are using the latest version of your chosen browser, where possible.

Spurious characters in lay summary field

When pasting text from other documents into lay summary field, spurious characters can appear in the pdf version of the form. This pdf version is created for the review process (eg departmental approver, selection committee).
To prevent this from happening, first paste text into a text editor, before copying into the lay summary. Recommended text editors are Notepad (available in Windows) and TextEdit (available on a Mac).

Saving your Application

IRAMS will auto-save your application as you move between sections of the form. However, ensure you click save before using the “Back to Main Menu” option - not doing so will result in you losing any unsaved data. Closing the browser window without first saving will also result in lost data.

Divisions and Research Services can add and manage funds through IRAMS

To request an IRAMS administrator account which gives you access to the IRAMS CRM and allows you to manage and set-up award schemes, please go to ITS Service Desk, selecting Dynamics User Access and completing the form. Please select Lotte Boon as the approver
• Once processed, contact the Service Desk at 12345 and request a Citrix BSP AD One-Time Pass-Code to set-up your own password to the system. If they ask please quote the Service Request reference
• Quick reference guides are available to create new awards, manage emails and applications. The ‘ten things you need to know’ guide tells you how to access the IRAMS CRM and navigate to the right section

IRAMS enhancement requests

This list will be updated as progression on delivery is made and enhancement requests added. IRAMS administrators will be involved in reviewing, prioritising, scheduling and testing enhancements.

Please note that IRAMS Dynamics is being upgraded to Dynamics365 in September 2019. Until that time no enhancements can be made to IRAMS Dynamics.

Identified issue

There is limited choice in selecting which notifications apply to a particular award/scheme. It is possible to select whether or not to send final report reminders, but not many of the others. This limits the scope of configuring the award/scheme in accordance with how fund managers want to run the relevant award/scheme.

Planned solution

Development of functionality in the award form that permits selection of each of the notifications at award level.

Identified issue

Frequently applicants are required to attach a CV or letter of support together with a case for support. Some applicants find it challenging to combine two documents into one pdf or letters of support come in close to the deadline with little time left to combine into one attachment.

At the start of 2019, it was decided not to pursue this enhancement and the guidance for applicants has been amended to include guidance on combining pdf documents. However, this request was made again in June 2019.

Planned solution

Investigation into whether it is possible to enable uploading more than one attachment.

Identified issue

Fund managers are not notified when applications have been submitted to fund owner. Whilst this is not a problem for awards/schemes with set deadlines, this is problematic when there is no deadline (also called rolling deadline). Fund managers are also not notified when extension requests have been submitted to fund owner, therefore, having to regularly go into IRAMS Dynamics to find out whether extensions have been submitted.

Planned solution

To create two new notifications (1) for applications submitted to fund owner where the award scheme has a rolling deadline, and (2) for extensions submitted to fund owner.

Identified issue

It occasionally happens that a fund manager needs to assist with applications and extensions that have been submitted to the incorrect approver unit. This is made difficult by the absence of the application reference number in the notification to departmental approvers.

Planned solution

To insert the application reference number in notification 1 and notification 10, which are notifications sent to departmental approvers.